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Yesterday, Judy Baar Topinka was asked about her contacts with Bill Cellini. She said she hadn’t spoken to him in ten years.
Topinka has never forgiven Cellini for that hotel deal and all the bad press that has resulted. Nevertheless expect the Democrats to try to level the playing field with revelations like this.
Longtime Republican leader William Cellini of Springfield has been implicated in a pension-fund kickback probe by federal prosecutors.
Jon Bauman, executive director of the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, confirmed that Cellini is the person referred to as “Individual A” in the indictment of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a political adviser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, made public Wednesday.
In the indictment, prosecutors say Individual A and several others - including at least four people who have been formally charged with crimes - worked together to pressure investment firms into making political contributions and paying “finder’s fees” to insiders who did no work. Unless the firms paid up, they were told they wouldn’t get any business from the Teachers’ Retirement System, which pays the pension of downstate and suburban teachers, prosecutors allege.
You can also expect this story to re-emerge.
Questions over Bruner’s votes for Commonwealth come after state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka faced criticism last month for her vote in the spring to invest up to $120 million with Commonwealth from another pension system. That’s because, in 1995, Topinka was set to allow the Cellini-led hotel consortium to repay a $15.5 million state loan at a rate equal to only 25 cents on the dollar. That controversial deal was blocked, and now mounting interest has Cellini and his co-investors holding a $27.5 million IOU to taxpayers.Topinka did not know that Commonwealth had Cellini ties when she allowed her vote with the Board of Investment to be cast, an aide told the Sun-Times last month, and she now favors revoking the Commonwealth deal. The issue could surface when the Board of Investment meets Wednesday.
Cellini yielded his 75 percent ownership stake in Commonwealth to two of his children more than a decade ago, but the firm is based in the same suite of Chicago offices where several other Cellini companies are located.
*** UPDATE *** The Tribune had this nugget today:
Topinka’s efforts to turn the tables on Blagojevich come after months of being hammered in Blagojevich campaign ads linking her to Ryan, convicted earlier this year on corruption charges. Blagojevich campaign aides said a recent commercial featuring Topinka with Ryan at the Illinois State Fair soon will be replaced with the new ad, which doesn’t name Topinka, Ryan or Bush.Still, the Blagojevich campaign insider said that another commercial showing Topinka dancing the polka with Ryan is “in the can” and ready to be rolled out if they feel it’s necessary. One of Topinka’s GOP primary opponents ran a similar ad showing news footage from years earlier of Topinka dancing with Ryan.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:30 am
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No one has been idicted so the ball is still in Blago’s court.If the Governor is so innocent why don’t the other big name Democrats rally round him?UUUMMMM.Plus Cellini is indicted as a Blago cronie.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:34 am
This is exactly why the republicans chose the wrong candidate for Governor.
Topinka is as dirty (if not dirtier) than Blago.
She has talked or taken money from ten years? I know for a fact that is not true. That should be easy to disprove. The fact that she is lying means she has something to hide.
Topinka is a crook.
Comment by Sid Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:39 am
With revelations like this, I hope the holier than thou downstaters that think Chicago/Cook County Dems have a lock on public corruption realize that this line of thinking doesn’t hold up…My experience is that when you get high enough up on the food chain, party affiliation and or region of the State is irrelevant…
If the Greens were smart, they’d beg and/or borrow money to run an ad on TV and capitalize on this bad news for both Rod and Judy… this could get interesting…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:45 am
I don’t see how bringing up Cellini will level the playing field at all -
Contributions from Rezko to Blago: $65,000+
Contributions from Cellini to Topinka: $0
Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:57 am
Sid - sinc eyou are such an insider, please show your proof? otherwise, try to stay on topic here because you are very bad at following the blago script.
face it, you got nothing, and you know it. Your bluff has been called
Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:02 am
So, why didn’t she know that Commonwealth was linked to Cellini.
Should government entities be doing some fairly
extensive research on firms they do business with. Was the information on the Cellini link hidden in some way, and, if so, could the deal be revoked on that basis? If it wasn’t hidden, that suggests Treasurer staff incompetence.
If JBT in her Treasurer role could get the
deal revoked, that would be a step in the right direction. But does she have staff competent enough to make the case and make that happen?
This Cellini dude, by the way, must be a true Bad Guy.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:06 am
I would expect Blago to raise the Cellini issue as a desperate attempt to say she more corrupt than me. HOWEVER, the issues are totally and different. They do not like each other. Period. He has not donated money to her. He or his companies have donated $86,000 to Blago.
I know Bill Cellini and I do not believe he would knowingly try to “extort” a company for the Blago campaign. My read of the indictment was that Lavine & Rezko could not shake down Capri. So they called Cellini and ask him raise $$ for Blago. CAPRI cried foul Cellini called back & told them game off…. I struggle to explain the cover up scheme …but, as I said, I feel Cellini is an honorable man with good intentions. I hope I am correct….
Comment by Larry Mullholland Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:09 am
JBT is dirtier than Rod? This is not Rod’s first eelcted office. Rod is part of the Chciago dem machine. They are both part of the combine but saying JBT is dirtier than Rod is quwazeey! I wish another candidate had been nominated like Brady. he was likely too conservative, but apparently clean. Gidwitz was as much as an insider as anyone. Obie was a nut. We are stuck w/Judy and I support her.
Comment by Wumpus DBA Charity Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:10 am
Does anyone recall the returns common wealth had/has? As I recall it was one of the highest %returns of any of the investment firms that was doing business with the State. Pretty impressive I say.
Comment by COMMON WEALTH ROCKS Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:14 am
If Cellini gets dirtied by Rezco, what does that do to the casino he owns. The Gaming Board kicked Binyon out of Illinois for alleged corruption. Does Cellini lose his casino license?
Comment by Gaming Board Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:48 am
Correct me if I am wrong, but is not Bill Cellini the Treasurer of the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee? Why is he doing business with Rezko and Blago?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:03 am
No wonder the state can’t get the millions it’s owed on that Hotel repaid, Topinka hasn’t talked to the debtor in 10 years!!
But her office still has big contracts with Cellini’s bank.
At least Blago seems to make some effort to keep his lies straight.
This Topinka is really a piece of work!
Comment by RealClear Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:21 am
By the way, Cellini most certainly HAS contributed to Topinka. You have to check his companies too, like his bank in Springfield where he has a major ownership interest.
Comment by RealClear Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:25 am
what bank is Cellini’s in Springfield?
Comment by Bottom Line Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:54 am
State Board of Elections shows that Judy Baar Topinka’s Campaign has gotten $7000 from Stuart Levine. Has the Marlboro woman repaid this money or given it to charity?
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:59 am
How many investigations is the current 3 time elected Treasurer of the State of Illinois under…….(0) got it.
Comment by Question Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:09 am
Rich: Here is another nugget from the SJR Reader Comments on Cellini:
“It will be fun to watch Topinka’s press conference as she tries to distance herself from Cellini. And don’t forget, Birkett is right in the middle of this Rezko thing too. His cousin (who loaned $100,000 to his campaign) is responsible for Rezko’s business partner getting the lucrative Subway franchise for the tollway. Birkett said office is investing the matter, but given the personal/financial relationship with one the parties involved, I doubt we’ll see any wrongdoing announced. Birkett is also close to GOP bond broker John Glennon who was indicted along with Stuart Levine”
This might be the place to ask about returning Levine money — add Rutherford, Cross ILGOP, Big Mo Murphy et al to the refunders line up.
Boy the returners will be busier than the day after Xmas.
Comment by DuPage Dandy Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:32 am
Isn’t the Marlboro woman still under investigation by the Feds for using her Treasurer staff on her campaign?
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:35 am
(618) Dem,
Of course not. The only person who claims to have been questioned by the Feds went public with her story three years ago.
The Feds asked their obligatory questions and closed the file. It went nowhere because there was nothing to it.
The accuser went to the media, which the Feds don’t allow in ongoing investigations. Since they dropped the investigation, they let her talk to the media without repercussion.
If there was an investigation three years ago, they would have shut the accuser up at that time and kept her from going public. Alas, they did not.
Comment by William Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:57 am
Unlike most of you, I also know Cellini, and I would judge the chances of him knowingly doing something illegal to be zero.
Comment by Steve Schnorf Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:40 pm
I CANNOT BELIEVE that there are people on here saying that Bill Cellini is a stand up guy and wouldn’t knowingly do something illegal! That is almost as funny as Blago saying the $1500 check to his daughter was just a present from her “almost a Godparent”! Mr. Cellini makes a nice profit from dealings that are - unlike his bank - “under the radar”. You might not see his name directly, but look for some of his companies that do business with the state. Ex - New Frontier, Public Asset Corp., etc….
Bill Cellini has his fingerprints on most deals in this town and a lot of it is questionable.
Comment by Stunned Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:16 pm
I’m quite surprised that Cellini has involvement in this as well. With his holdings and investments, he sure didn’t have a financial need to get into this mess.
618 Dem - give it up. The investigation is over and no wrongdoing was found which I doubt will be the case with Elvis. You’re continuing to beat a dead horse.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:30 pm
William and Little Egypt: It ain’t over till the Feds say it’s over and they ain’t said it was over to my knowlege. The Marlboro woman can put that in her cigarette and smoke it because that’s the way it works.
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:37 pm
618 Dem, you are right on target.
That “William” is obviously some Topinka hack, and is spreading a bunch of lies. That’s what Topinka’s people do.
Absolutely, Topinka has huge problems. And she’s not even smart enough to change the way she does business.
Comment by Stop the Lies Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 7:55 pm
Cellini has been a state political puppetmaster to both parties for decades, though he seems to prefer the Republicans. There is not a state building in Springfield doesn’t have his fingerprints on it somewhere. His lobbying is legendary, as is the proxy powers he wields. Even after the dems came in and kicked out Republicans left and right, Cellinis remain on the payroll, too clouted to be budged. But he prefers to stay out of the light. In the Blago crowd, he managed to get stuck to people who don’t know the meaning of “low profile” or subtlety… If Cellini goes down, it will be the biggest shakeup in illinois since prohibition times.
Comment by This thing of ours Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:05 pm
618 Dem, Stop the Lyies,
Obviously you haven’t heard the latest.
The Feds corruption investigation was extensive; it involved shutting down Judy’s office and interviewing thousands of her employees and neighbors. Just last week the Riverside police had cordoned off the entire city and had a mass deposition in the city park. Channel 7 got wind of it and has tape that will air shortly to counter the latest lies being told about our clean governor.
They got the goods on her. THe most damning charge will be feral tax evasion on all of her generic brand cigs. Turns out she has state employees scouring the deep south for second hand deals and running them to our great state and cutting out the revenuers.
I hear an indictment will be announced the week before the election–long overdue justice!
Keep hope alive!
Comment by William Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:11 pm
New poll just released by WGN shows the Governor up by 14%.
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:17 pm
(618) would you post the link to that information?
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:24 pm
(618) - never mind. I found your source myself. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2006/governor/il/illinois_governor_race-8.html
You are most definitely a Blago supporter as you have left us with a very incorrect impression. I’ll let the bloggers here go to the website and see the results for themselves. Wishful thinking on your part, of course. I’m more interested in seeing a poll that has been conducted since all of this Rezko stuff hit the fan.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 11:31 pm
Grand Old Partisan - You are wrong about Topinka not receiving any money from Cellini. His PAC has contributed over $62,000 to Topinka. And Cellini, individually, along with the board members of his bank - Illinois National Bank -have contributed over $56,000.
And don’t forget that Cellini’s Illinois National Bank is the largest contractor with the Treasurer’s Office.
And by the way, Cellini’s Good Government Council has contributed over $68,000 to Topinka, Republicans, and members of the Combine. And the Chairman of Cellini’s GGC is none other than James Bruner - TRS Board Member.
And let’s not forget about GOP heavyweight John Glennon, who was also indicted in the Rezko/Levine matter. He gave Topinka over $8,000.
Topinka has some explaining to do herself. When will she face the press and answer questions about Cellini, Glennon, Levine? Or will she do as she always has - deny and distract.
Comment by RealClear Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 1:25 am
RealClear - I believe the line forms behind your boy Elvis.
Comment by Little Egypt Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 8:42 am
Total from Good Govt Council/IAPA to Blago according to Board of Elections $60,000. He and Rezko are right there together. Grand Old Partisan is correct that $0 (at least from this group) to JBT. I would assume she has been on the outs since the hotel deal fell through.
Apparently Mr. Bill knows how to go with the flow!
Comment by Pot Stirrer Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 10:21 am
Follow up - Time period is from June 02 to latest record.
Comment by Pot Stirrer Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 10:39 am
Cellini, Kelly, Levine, Rezko. Can it be that we’ve finally found an area in which Blago has truly put forth a bi-partisan effort? Just help his friends, help his funds and deliver on the “green” - he won’t care if you personally are “blue” or “red”. The Gov himself continues of course to bring “yellow” to the mix by dodging debates and press conferences…
Comment by Casey Jones Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 12:34 pm
Real Clear, you don’t have a clue.
Comment by steve schnorf Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 6:23 pm
I look forward to the November 7th election results to see how human nature will react to the campaign contest between Rod and Judy. Will the voter’s disallusionment and apathy regarding these two candidates (Rod & Judy) result in a miniscule turnout on election day? Or, will the Green Candidate (whatever his name is?) surprise the media (as well as Rod and Judy) with the large number of votes that he pulls? My guess is that the Green candidate will pull 20% of the total votes cast simply because the voters would rather choose a “mystery disease” rather than the current choice between whether they would prefer A) cancer or B) a heart attack.
I fault Andy McKenna for lacking the “testicular virility” to stand up to the GOP powers that be and his timidity in backing a GOP candidate that exemplified a “new and fresh rebirth” for the Illinois Republican Party. Instead, GOP Chairman McKenna went along with the George Ryan remnant that used the stale argument that the GOP needed someone with “name recognition”. Dennis Rodman also has “name recognition” so it is a miracle that he wasn’t suggested as well for the Illinois GOP front runner.
Amazing stuff and very entertaining to study.
Comment by Beowulf Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:59 am
I have to agree with some. While Uncle Bill may be technically clean does anybody remember when the Garden Court Neighborhood in Springfield was low income rent housing? Until….New Horizion/New Frontier Realty took it over and turned it into a nice section 8 drug shopping center and shooting gallery. Oh by the way if you move in you get a free month of groceries or a free months rent. Thanks Bill. My mom and dad’s house valuation took a dump. Rich I hope you let this through as I posted the same comment on the SJR site and gee it never appeared. I am a Republican. Again… Thanks Bill will you pick up their monthly ADT bill?
Comment by Anon Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 10:29 pm